Marks & Spencer is the first high street retailer to sell own-brand, Fairtrade single origin Rwandan coffee. The coffee not only has a delicious rich tangy taste, but the Fairtrade premiums paid for the coffee are improving the wellbeing of women and young people in the local Rwandan community through building schools, healthcare clinics and transport links.
M&S Fairtrade Rwandan coffee is supplied exclusively by COOPAC - a cooperative of Rwandan coffee farmers who manage the entire supply chain process, from picking right through to export. Established in 2001, COOPAC has grown from a team of just 110 members, to a staggering 2,200 to date.
COOPAC has already benefited from being a Fairtrade cooperative through the improved infrastructure, plus the social premium generated by the sales of the coffee at M&S will go towards helping the farmers develop new areas of business. For example, a trial is in place for several farmers to receive a cow to provide an alternative source of income through dairy production - as well as being able to use the manure to replace chemical fertilisers. If successful this will be rolled out to all farmers in the COOPAC cooperative.
David Gregory, Director of Technology at Marks & Spencer recently visited the farm and plantation in Rwanda as part of Marks & Spencer’s ongoing relationship with COOPAC.
David says: “M&S Fairtrade Rwandan coffee is an exceptional quality coffee - not only in it’s flavour but also in the unique way it is grown by the local farmers who have sole responsibility over the entire production to export process.”
David continues…”The farms are based near the shores of Lake Kivu, the largest of numerous freshwater lakes in Rwanda. Steep terraced hills lead down to the picturesque lake where the soil is rich and fertile. The consistent climate and rich African soil add to the complex range of flavours; citrus aromas, nuances of red berries and the lingering butter toffee finish. With tasting notes like that, you could be forgiven for thinking it was an amazing bottle of vintage wine!”
M&S Fairtrade Rwandan coffee is £2.69 per 227g pack and is exclusively available to M&S.
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For further information, please contact:
Jo Pinate Marks & Spencer Food Press Office 020 8718 3684
Liz Williams Food PR Manager 020 8718 6369
Notes to Editors:
M&S has converted 20 million garments to Fairtrade Cotton (this equates to 10% of all M&S cotton use). Making it the biggest retailer of Fairtrade cotton on the high street
Fairtrade food sales are up 21% and we’ve sold over 3 million Fairtrade cotton garments
In 2007 M&S converted all its jams, conserves and bagged sugar to Fairtrade and now offer more Fairtrade fruit and wine than ever before
There are over 100 food products in the Fairtrade range
The Fairtrade Foundation is the independent certification body in the UK that awards the FAIRTRADE Mark to products which meet internationally agreed Fairtrade standards. For producer organisations, these include a democratic and participative structure to ensure that Fairtrade premiums are used to improve social conditions for farmers, workers and their wider community, or to strengthen their businesses for the future
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